Mini fruit pizzas
These mini fruit pizzas were originally post on All Things Delicious. A big thank-you to Brooke for the guest post. If you haven’t yet visited All Things Delicious, you’re missing out!
I recently hosted a baby shower for my little sister. I chose turquoise and strawberry red for the shower colors and carried that strawberry red theme into the dessert buffet with mini fruit pizzas. Though you can top these babies with all kinds of fresh fruit—blueberries, mandarin oranges, kiwi, bananas—I went with diced strawberries. (Kind of a no-brainer due to the whole strawberry red thing.)
I love how simple yet pretty they turned out:
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The possibilities are endless for these mini fruit pizzas. Add some fresh blueberries with the diced strawberries and you have the perfect dessert for your 4th of July picnic!
Don’t tell, but I may still have a small tub of the frosting hidden in my fridge in case of PMS emergency.
Printable recipe for mini fruit pizzas below.
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- 2¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 to 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1 to 2 tsp vanilla extract (to taste)
- Diced fresh fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, bananas, peaches or kiwis. You can also top them with mandarin oranges (drained).
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda and baking powder.
- In a large bowl cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Roll rounded tablespoonfuls of dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are set and lightly golden. Let stand on cookie sheet 2 minutes before moving to wire racks to cool completely.
- In a medium bowl, cream together cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla.
- Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar until frosting reaches desired consistency. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
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Also in the dessert buffet lineup at my sister’s shower were these drool-worthy desserts:
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What can I say? I love dessert.
And now I’m craving mini fruit pizzas AND cupcakes. *sigh*
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Summer Shape-Up With a Little Common Sense
Disclaimer: I am a brand ambassador for Diet-to-Go. As such, I was compensated for this post. But even though Diet-to-Go sent me absolutely delicious and healthy meals, my thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.
I probably love health and fitness as much as I do because I adore food. And with swimsuit season officially here, I’m even more attentive to what I’m eating and how I’m attempting to stay in shape. Fad diets don’t interest me, but common-sense tips and tricks do, which is why I love the Summer Shape-Up With Common Sense campaign from Diet-to-Go.
Even better? Lots of prizes are involved and multiple chances to win!
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Here’s what Diet-to-Go has going on this summer. I highly recommend you participate in one or more of these online events. Not only will it be fun and help you get in shape for summer but you’ll also burn calories clicking that mouse!
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Diet-to-Go Facebook Sweepstakes
This summer sweepstakes runs June 10th through June 30th. Entering is easy (“like” Diet-to-Go on Facebook to get started). One (1) lucky winner will receive a month of free meals; five (5) runners-up will receive a week of free meals! For details and official rules visit the Diet-to-Go sweepstakes page. To enter, visit facebook.com/diettogo.
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Twitter Chat: Common Sense Methods for Getting in Shape
Join Diet-to-Go Tuesday, June 18th from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. (EST) for a Twitter chat discussing common-sense methods and practices o stay fit and get your summer shape-up on. Use hashtag #diettogo to join. One (1) randomly drawn Twitter chatter will win a Fitbit Flex Wristband; three (3) randomly drawn chatters will win a WEEK of free meals!
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DietBet: Diet-to-Go’s Summer Shape-Up
Diet-to-Go will be hosting our very own DietBet: Diet-to-Go’s Summer Shape-Up, which gives participants the opportunity to win money for losing weight. (Awesome, right?) In addition to splitting the pot, all winners receive a $50 gift card to use towards the purchase of any 7-day meal plan!
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Common-Sense Healthy Living on Google+
Looking for healthy living tips, weight loss ideas that work and recipes that are healthy and delicious? Join the Diet-to-Go Google+ community where people just like you share what has and hasn’t worked for them. Become a member of the Common-Sense Healthy Living community and join the discussion.
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Fabulous Father’s Day appetizers
If it were up to me, dinner most nights would be an assortment of appetizers. I love finger foods and I love variety. Of course I don’t love a lot of prep work and rarely plan ahead, so appetizers as dinner never happens…unless it’s a family party (like the one we’re having this Father’s Day) and I fill up on hot artichoke dip with a side of chips and cowboy salsa before the chicken is off the grill.
My sister has requested this caprese bites with tangerine fig balsamic for Father’s Day dinner and I’m happy to oblige.
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Speaking of appetizers, Father’s Day is a great time to whip up a batch of hearty finger foods. Here is a roundup of appetizers Nathan would—or already does—love.
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Avocado Egg Rolls with Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce from Taste and Tell
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Copy Cat Chili’s Dipping Sauce from Chef in Training
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Fried Pickles from The Vanilla Tulip
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Individual Seven Layer Dips from The Girl Who Ate Everything
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Mini Mac and Cheese Pies from The Curvy Carrot
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Buffalo Chicken Waffle Bites from Real Mom Kitchen
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Cowboy Salsa from yours truly
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Fajita Steak Dip from Sweet Basil
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Chicken Tostada Bites from Apple a Day
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Queso Fundido with Chorizo from I Wash You Dry
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Jalapeno Popper Dip from Closet Cooking
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Asian Meatballs from Gimme Some Oven
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Stuffed Jalapenos with Gorgonzola and Bacon from Foodie Crush
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Great Artist Mom is perfect for your little artist
First, let me put it out there: this is NOT a sponsored post. Laurie, the woman behind Great Artist Mom, is my friend’s sister and one of the most talented artists I know. She adores art, adores kids and adores teaching—the perfect combination for someone who founded the Great Artist Program, an elementary art education program for grades K–6.
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Oh, and she is the mother of seven kids and a breast cancer survivor.
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Laurie is also:
- A former elementary school teacher.
- A volunteer art teacher at the elementary school and a private art teacher in my home.
- Crazy about Matisse!
- A lover of children’s books.
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But back to Great Artist Mom. If you have little artists at home, you will want to visit/bookmark/pin/subscribe to this site ASAP. It is an awesome resource for children’s art projects. The site is full of ideas, inspiration and guided drawing video tutorials for you and your kids to watch together. The site launched in early May and is already brimming with artistic ideas for your little ones.
On Great Artist Mom you’ll find:
- Art activities to do with children.
- Illustrations and artists that inspire children to create art.
- Amazing children’s art.
- Your art questions answered.
- Art champions: volunteers in the schools and the difference they are making.
- Art education: why art is so important
- Art resources: books, supplies, and other resources for successful and engaging art experiences with your children.
- Step-by-step guided drawing videos for you and your child.
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One of Laurie’s most recent videos was a how-to on drawing a space ship inspired by the Harry and Horsie
We are HUGE fans of Harry and Horsie. Cutest. Books. Ever.
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You simply must subscribe to the Great Artist Mom YouTube channel. Every week Laurie uploads a new video tutorial for another fabulous work of art you can make with your kids. So far she has three and I think her Wild Things Drawing is my most favorite:
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I don’t usually do any form of art or craft project with my kids, but Great Artist Mom has me reconsidering. Most of the books she references are already family favorites and her videos or so easy to follow, even this art-challenged mom can do it!
Check out the Wild THings the kids created this morning:
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I’d love for you to visit Laurie’s site and share it with any family or friends who have little artists of their own. And if your school is in need of an art program, FOR SURE check out the Great Artist Program. I can promise you it is a far better elementary art program than Meet the Masters.
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Dark chocolate peanut butter cookies
These dark chocolate peanut butter cookies came about after creating a new recipe (yay me!) for an upcoming guest post on Barbara Bakes. I decided that recipe was so yummy I needed to take that same decadent chocolate cookie and change up the mix-ins…just for fun of course.
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You’ll have to wait for the recipe to discover what was in the first batch!
This time I tried dark chocolate chips and chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups. They were divine. As in “eat them fresh from the oven after they’ve cooled a couple minutes” divine. The chocolate cookie dough recipe is a keeper for sure. I think next time we’ll try chopped Twix. Lots of chopped Twix.
Printable recipe for dark chocolate peanut butter cookies below.
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- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1½ cups white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup Ghirardelli natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup coarsely chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheet or line with parchment paper or silicone mat.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 to 3 minutes). Add eggs and vanilla and beat another 1 to 2 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Gently fold in dark chocolate chips and Reese’s.
- Drop by rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets and press slightly to flatten.
- Bake for 9 to 10 minutes or until set. Allow to cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Cardstore Pin It for Papa contest {GIVEAWAY}
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for Cardstore. Even though I was compensated to help promote their Pin It for Papa contest, all thoughts, opinions and propensity for humorous greetings cards are my own.
Remember those fabulous custom Mother’s Day cards I designed for my mom, sis and BFF thanks to Cardstore? I am still giggling over the one for my sister, especially now that I have a brand new niece…and last night was a rough night for the new mom.
I’m totally empathizing while giggling so it’s okay.
Well, Father’s Day is just around the corner, which means more custom Cardstore cards. I can choose a card for my dad, add personal photos, my own hilarious message and sign it “your favorite” (of course). Then, Cardstore will print, stamp and send the card for me. A custom card is another way to ensure I remain Dad’s favorite.
Delicious home-cooked meals whenever he visits is another.
My dad really does rock. Why? Because he’s the best grandpa a grandkid could ask for. We’re talkin’ hiking through Thanksgiving Point gardens; blowing bubbles in the backyard; filling, emptying and refilling swimming pools; and finding every possible little thing in the sky interesting.
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My most favorite pictures of my dad are the ones in which he’s spending time with my kids. Those make my heart super happy.
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For the next three weeks, Cardstore is celebrating super awesome dads like mine with their Pin It for Papa Pinterest contest. The contest is a way to thank Dad this Father’s Day and celebrate all those special times they’ve spent with us and our kids.
Not only will participating help you reminisce about all those wonderful memories you share with your dad, it will also give one (1) ITRML reader the chance to win a $100 VISA gift card.
You’ll also be eligible to win $50 each week of the contest and a $300 grand prize from Cardstore!
All you have to do is participate in Cardstore’s Pin It For Papa Pinterest contest. Here are the contest details:
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For your chance to win the $100 VISA gift card as an ITRML reader, use the Rafflecopter widget below.
| a Rafflecopter giveaway |
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Peanut butter bars
Madison and her friend Olivia thought it would be super awesome to make these Reese’s-inspired peanut butter bars because they’re super easy and require only a few ingredients.
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The idea was awesome, all right, if awesome means wanting to eat the entire pan all by myself. And I could do it too. Fortunately they were a hit with everyone and disappeared quickly, otherwise today’s recipe would be followed by a post about the latest and greatest grapefruit diet.
Printable recipe for peanut butter bars below.
Just make sure you make them when you have a full house. Your hips will thank you.
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- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 lb confectioners’ sugar
- 1 cup all-natural peanut butter
- 10-12 graham cracker sheets (20-24 squares), finely crushed
- 1 (16-oz.) bag semisweet chocolate chips
- Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Mix butter, sugar, peanut butter and graham crackers together in large bowl. Press into the bottom of the 9×13-inch pan. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes or until peanut butter is set..
- Place chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl. Melt for 1 minute on half (50%) power. Stir. Melt in additional 30 second increments (half power) until smooth.
- Remove pan from freezer and spread melted chocolate over peanut butter mixture. Return to freezer for an additional 20 minutes.
- Remove from freezer 5 minutes before serving (makes it easier to cut into squares).
- Refrigerate any leftovers (if you have them!).
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